The Coiled Splendour

by Superwitch

ELRIN AND SEVERUS SNAPE OF SLYTHERIN. Snape/OC. A strange woman finds herself at Hogwarts, and Severus Snape is suspicious, for he has something to protect.

25. in other words, hold my hand

I'd like to thank you wonderful lot for redoing the reviews for Chapter 22. It meant a great deal and it was very kind of you.   And of course your reviews are so terrific. Please keep them coming.

Superwitch                                                                                          

Chapter 23

Something in her ached at the preciousness of his face looking down at her with such a sad awareness of death. How could he remain so apparently unconcerned with the threat of torture and certain death awaiting him in a short time? Nothing seemed to leak from him that would betray his fear: no effort to persuade her, or influence her or force her to do this thing. Just a stoic loving contemplation of her.

His eyes shimmering black, he leant down as she reached up and as his body encompassed hers, she absorbed the astonishing taste of him mixed with the wine as their lips met. Neither saw the wide smile on Dumbledore's face, nor the rueful grins on their colleague's faces, nor even the disgusted faces made by most of the students as well as the long sighs from the house-elves.

Was she going to let herself be poisoned? Because now was the time.

                               

In other words, hold my hand

Frank Sinatra

Chapter 24 (which is going to show up as chapter 25 – oh well)

'And now,' announced Dumbledore, 'all that needs to be done, is to thank the forces that were with us today,' and he bowed gently towards the four directions,  'to express gratitude to the beings who were with us tonight, and to thank the May King and Queen' he said bowing towards the two figures still motionless on their thrones and we are done,' and as he did so, all the company bowed and then stamped their feet loudly. 'The sacred space is now closed.' He glanced briefly at Severus who nodded almost imperceptibly back. 'And we will continue with our festivities.'

The students, glad of their freedom suddenly broke free and like a multitude of apples from a bulging sack, burst out and spread everywhere very quickly.  Elrin and Severus had a bright light slammed in their faces and was lucky not to have been hexed by one the best duellists in the country. Colin Creevey, a young man still sporting the palest of faces and wavy blonde hair behind his camera, had jumped in front of them, and both flinched.

'For the Daily Prophet,' he explained unnecessarily.

'I think you will find,' Severus glared silkily, holding onto Elrin as if she were about to disappear, 'that that will be quite sufficient Mr. Creevey.'

'Professor..' he began, looking at his teacher's face, then changed his mind. There was no doubt that marriage had not softened the potions master. Suddenly, spotting a familiar figure advancing swiftly on them through the students, Elrin pulled Severus around so that he faced her, and demanded, 'kiss me.'

'Kiss you?' he asked, surprised at the order and aware of the students milling closely around them. She glared at him, urgency in her face. Puzzled he bent down to her.

As he reached her lips she whispered, 'I'll do it. I'll take the Patriarchium.' He stared as if he had seen something wondrous like witnessing an Abraxan foal being born and had felt the quivering of its tiny damp wings. As he had stooped down to her, he froze and examined her with his eyes, searching, willing hungry, but silent. He stayed like that until a drawl behind him made the professor stand upright and turn on one heel, in a slow, deadly movement, which if she had been on the receiving end as the object of his displeasure, would have had her running for cover. Lucius, however assumed nonchalance with his unthinking certainty of brotherhood and smiled his contemptuous smile, all bonhomie and congratulatory assertions. With concern in his eyes for her, Severus bore it with graciousness and a dignity that made her want to burst with pride. Lucius could cut an aristocratic swathe with his superiority, but he was a popinjay against the dark elegance and astuteness of the potions master. She did not see Lucius wink at his co-conspirator and he went off swiftly. As he watched him go, Severus rounded on her quickly.

'Thank you my darling,' he said softly by her ear. 'I will administer the antidote after he has tested you.'

'Tested me?' she breathed.

'He is bound to want to do so and Voldemort will have told him to. Better to get it over with. He will not waste time. He never did have much patience.'  Wondering whether she had changed her mind, he held her hand surreptitiously between them. Elrin felt the blood rise and her breathing shorten.

This was going to be harder than she imagined.

He squeezed her hand.  'Then I will administer the potion immediately to you. Trust me.'

The presence of Malfoy Senior had been putting people off who wanted to congratulate them, and the tradition of touching the couple for good luck was still important for them, so as soon as he disappeared, they spent some time shaking hands, he stiffly, she warmly, both side by side. She was glad of the distraction. A small procession of well-wishers including Hagrid and Wilemina and Xiomara and Filius among them stopped and spoke to them. Hermione, now down from her dais admired her dress and the compliment was easily returned. She was so pretty, and Draco sulkily dragged after her as his duty required, and she thought it was a shame that his handsomeness was so marred by his veneer of cynicism. On one so young, it lent a seedy air. Even Harry came and congratulated her, Ron hovering behind him, but she noticed that both skilfully avoided Severus.

They all stood out in the night air, and it was soft and warm and when it seemed a little cool, they gathered round the bonfire, some of the 2nd years attempting to find the ashes of the broomstick, shouting about the powers they could gain if they found any.

Soon, tables were being levitated into place by the house-elves, their bustle and jollity making a performance out of throwing the buffet platters about in wild abandon and playing with the cutlery as they laid the tables while many of the students enjoyed watching. It wasn't often that everyone ate outside. The week before, Severus had suggested that since all the food would have been prepared earlier, that the house-elves join the feast especially since they would be attending the ceremony, but horrified, they refused point blank. Severus had snarled at Dobby and two senior house-elves so vehemently and grimly pointed out that they deserved some festivities in such a threatening manner that they finally agreed to have a table to themselves a little apart. They said that they would be more comfortable that way, so it was agreed.

While Elrin was looking around at everyone, watching with a certain amount of detachment of their faces innocently radiant in the light and no doubt looking forward to the feast and the dancing, she thought she spotted someone who dived behind some prefects at the outer edges of the ceremonial area. Concerned, she left Severus' side to find out who it was and the person slipped further away from her. Moving was not entirely easy in that attire, so she had to pick her train up and dart through amused students, her veil moving from side to side, to find the person just about to dash through some bushes. It was darker away from the central arena and the night air chillier, shadows chasing one another in the relative quiet of the vegetation. When the figure looked back anxiously, only then did she recognise him.

'Remus!' she cried and he stopped, realizing the futility of further hiding.

'How wonderful you could come,' she said, a little out of breath.

'I just wanted to…..' he stumbled and stopped.

'Of course you did. I'm really very glad you could come.' She meant it, and it was a pleasure to see his kind face and then she noticed something odd. His clothes no long had a shabbiness about them and his face looked clear, but he was uncomfortable.

'Did you get my flowers?' she asked.

'Yes, thank you. It was a kind gesture,' he said, suddenly not knowing where to put his hands.

'It wasn't just a gesture, it was because I wanted to.'

'For shut-ins. I know the tradition. Flowers for the shut-ins,' he muttered.

'Flowers for the people we like,' she said smiling. 'I sent just a few flowers. Some to Hagrid, some to Xiomara and some to Dumbledore. You are in good company I believe. And maybe you are no longer a shut-in?' she suggested. 'Would you join us?'

He jerked his head up, 'Severus wouldn't like it. He thinks I took the….'

A low growl interrupted him quickly from behind her. 'I am aware Remus,' said Severus, 'that you did not take anything from me.' Lupin, disconcerted, stared at his former colleague, remembering the fury that the potions master had borne down on him at St.Mungoes.

'So you know who…' but did not get any further as Severus stopped him.

'It would be fitting that you attend, if you wish it. I see my wife wishes it too,' and he held her shoulders possessively. It gave her a shiver since it was the first time he had referred to her new status. At least he did not pretend that it was his own wishes, though she felt less antagonism from him towards the erstwhile werewolf. Remus breathed deep and agreed to stay. She was about to link arms with them both and take them back into the centre when she changed her mind.

'Remus, please go in and we will join you,' she said quickly and seeing him go, softly added to her lover and her new husband, 'Lucius is behind you.'

He turned and Malfoy stood there, with three goblets levitating before him, grinning tediously.

Here it was. Her challenge, her trial, her Niagara Falls.

The school governor handed one goblet to her and one to Severus.

'May I,' he asked, holding a drink 'wish you both good fortune and happiness? I would also like to say that you are lucky to have each other,' and he nodded to her and clinked her goblet. 'You my dear have a mighty wizard in Severus who has a blisteringly powerful future if he plays his cards right, and you my dear fellow have such a beautiful, extraordinary woman,' and clinked his and then paused. 'To you both,' and raised his drink and smiled, waiting.

Oh hell, oh hell Severus: you'd better be right.

Elrin had hesitated only for a fraction, looking down at the ruby depths of the wine, not daring to look at Severus in case she faltered or gave the game away and drank. It was a gorgeous wine, which went down with ease and she waited for something to happen. There appeared to be no change in her that she could detect and she risked a shrug at Severus as Lucius' eyes roamed over the company behind him, his nose lifting.

'Severus, we will give you a proper wedding when the time comes with the perfect company and appropriate environment, including all the trimmings,' said Lucius.

Don't like the sound of that and I'm not going to ask, especially the trimmings.

'Not this – raggle-taggle shambles, given by an old fool,' he continued and she observed Severus curl his lip in agreement.

'I've had my wedding thank you,' she said, incensed by his reference to Dumbledore, and her chin went up.

Malfoy glanced briefly at his collaborator who paused for a moment, then spoke to his wife, his voice had a hint of menace in it. It made her shiver inside.

'I will have a wedding appropriate to my standing, with true elegance, in superlative company. Right Lucius?' and he winked at him.

As she was about to reply, she felt a strange pressure on her chest and her head became what she could only describe as fuzzy. Words formed in her mind, but they became scrambled.

I have had my wedding day. I want no other. My wedding day: I want. I want my wedding. I want a wedding. I want a wedding. I want a wedding appropriate to my husband's standing. I want a wedding of true elegance in superlative company with all the trimmings.

'Yes Severus, as you wish,' were the words that eventually came out. Standing side by side, the two Death Eaters laughed together. Horrified, she looked at her husband. Sickness gripped her stomach. The betrayal, the true poison hit her like a thunderbolt. The two men seemed to be watching her like a specimen in a jar, and as her soul fluttered about in it, she felt true fear, and began to wilt physically. Severus was quick to encompass her as she sank towards the ground and as he laid his cheek against hers, he whispered directly in her ear, 'I love you.'

'I believe the lady needs a chair after all this excitement' drawled Malfoy and with his wand manifested an 18th century chair that appeared from nowhere and her partner placed her carefully on it as if she were ancient parchment.

'The lady needs a drink,' sneered Lucius, all politeness and calm and was about to conjure one when his companion beat him to it. Severus put all the reassurance he could into his crow-black eyes while maintaining a ruthless face, as she lifted the glass to her lips. 'D-r-i-n-k,' he said forming the words with his mouth slowly and carefully, as if indeed he were hypnotising her.

Was that the antidote?  That must have been the test.

She drank and the warmth hit her throat and settled her shifting stomach and the world tilted a little more upright.           

'Such a big day,' comforted Lucius in his sleek patronising manner. 'What a woman dreams of,' he said, swinging his cane idly. Her eyes glittered dangerously, and aware of the depth of her anger, tried with all her might not to retaliate and give away her knowledge. Pulling up her reserves, and fortified by whatever was in the drink given to her, she said, 'I'm feeling better now thank you. It's been a long day,' and got up, smoothed her dress and adjusted the thin circlet holding the veil. 'I believe I should attend to the guests,' and was about to leave the two men to themselves, when Lucius glanced meaningfully at Severus who then said, 'Wait Elrin. There is something I want you to do.'

Her feet froze to the ground. She could not move them at all.

Was this how she though it would be? She felt a fool.

There was no option but to wait until Malfoy senior suddenly said something into Severus' ear.

'Under no circumstances,' his companion snarled, his head whipping round, hair flaring out. Malfoy however, maintained his stance and said nothing, just looked at his fellow Death Eater, who was outraged, blood even shooting to his white face: two spots of angry colour rising on his cheeks.

'Lucius, do not do this.' he growled. 'Something else.' Malfoy continued to say nothing.

Severus cursed and then took a deep breath. They could all hear the festivity in full swing: the banging of fireworks, music playing, the shouts of laughter and the sounds of general jollity. Taking out his wand, he fixed up an Invisibility Wall around the three of them and then spoke to Elrin, not able to look directly into her eyes.

'Elrin, I want you to be nice to our fellow Slytherin. I want you to – kiss him,' and he hesitated, 'properly – fully – on the mouth.' He omitted the word sexual, but she knew what he meant.

This was not to be a peck on the cheek.

Her sickness immediately returned.

Obviously, what he had given her was definitely not the antidote.

Seeing her pale, Severus' fingers clutched at thin air down by his side, but he was as helpless as she. There was a moment when she thought he might refuse to make her do this. Malfoy was enjoying her total discomfort and his companions' as well.

She should just be grateful that that was all he demanded. Anything further would be unthinkable.

'This is not quite a compliment madam,' he drawled. 'Your reluctance is ungracious.'

'This is my wedding day – to Severus,' she managed to blurt out.

'So?' he replied in his condescending tone. 'A little kiss is neither here nor there in the greater scheme of things.'

The pressure on her chest was increasing so strongly, that she felt she might not be able to stand soon and her head pounded so uncomfortably the more she delayed. Feeling that it was becoming unbearable, she took a step or two towards Lucius who waited completely still: she all red fire moving towards his blonde, upright presence. He was enjoying her struggle.

'Come my dear and give your Uncle Lucius a wedding kiss,' he hissed. This comment only served to slow her down.

How hard can this be? It's only a kiss. Nothing more. If it had been more, it would have pushed Severus over the edge. Malfoy knew that. It's only a kiss.

Feeling her body betraying her, she moved forward and his cologne reached her and it was rich and seductive. The worst thing of all, was that there was a part of her that wanted it, was drawn to him as surely as if she were in the grip of devil's snare. He raked her up and down as she moved towards him and her body shivered. She remembered Hermione's advice to the rest of their trinity about that carnivorous vegetation.

Relax, just relax. Struggling will only make it worse.

Not being sure whether it was his feral sexuality that was pulling her or the potion impelling her she tried to rationalize what was happening, but it all seemed too fast and yet unbearably slow. There was a terrible desire in her to turn and call to Severus for help: to plead if necessary to be relieved of this, but she did not. He was as tall as Severus and as fastidious in his dress: ermine and silk and dark elegance. He stood there like a vast column, waiting for her to come to him. Fastening her eyes on the coiled snakes resting on the blackness of his cloak, she did not want to lift her eyes to see his predatory face but the physical discomfort only lessened if she did so. Unlike the curved and sensuous mouth of her lover, Malfoy's lips had a hard meanness to them, though they were pleasantly shaped. His cold, cold eyes, the coldest blue she had seen, stabbed her with their hunger. Then she was pressing up against his body and suddenly she could feel his hardness lower down. She could hardly breathe.

'You need to learn,' he enunciated carefully with the langerousness of a jungle cat, 'where your place is, my dear.' As she watched his lips in dismayed fascination, he pounced down upon her with the sexual predation of a ferret. There was no way she could see Severus behind her judder and screw his fists up tightly, muttering some Latin to himself. A sense of responsibility meant that he was forcing himself to watch, when he only wanted to turn his face and not witness what was happening. Lucius had thrown his arms around her and pressed his lips against hers in a wide gaping maw, which made her shrink inside. It was if he had reached down into her and plucked out her beating heart and held it, suffocating, in his hand. Feeling him pressing against her with his groin as well as the greedy groping of his mouth she tried to retreat, but the pain immediately returned, so she desperately tried to relax.

Think sexy. Think tall Slytherin.

As soon as she relaxed, he shoved his tongue down her throat and she almost gagged. He had as much sophistication as a thug underneath that faux aristocratic demeanour. She desperately tried to accommodate him, and attempted to imagine Severus, then blocked him out of her mind.

There was no way that she could think of him at this moment.

He was sucking and biting at her like she was something to be eaten and hastily too.

This jarring violation had none of the passion of Severus: which spoke of giving and a receiving but this was a rape plain and simple, a conquering, stealing ugliness. Savagery was hidden under a cloak of refinement and superiority: a taking without leave, a one-sided engagement that had no humanity to it. For all their likeness on the outside with their caustic, sensuous sophistication and possession of a shared heritage, they were a world apart.

Will this never end? Who would say when it was to finish?

As soon as she attempted to return his endeavours and imitate at least some sensuality, she felt the hardness strengthen against her thighs and he was suddenly pulling her downwards and there was nothing she could do to prevent it. She could hear Severus' raised voice above the clamour in her head and suddenly Lucius broke away, anger on his face, his hair in disarray.

'A kiss, Lucius. Just a kiss,' her husband snarled, face grim and wand at the ready, his whole body shaking under fierce control. Malfoy knew he had stepped over the edge of his comrade's tolerance and irritably adjusted his dress.

'What a lot of fuss Severus,' he snarled, attempting to escape from the situation with some dignity.

'You are my guest Lucius,' said the dark haired wizard to the blonde, remaining angry, but realizing the need to distract such a dangerous visitor, 'come and have some more wine with us.'

Brushing off imaginary stains on his black cloak as if she needed brushing off too, he declined the offer, still smarting. 'Thank you my dear fellow,' he said, beginning to regain a modicum of dignity. 'I need to go home. I have urgent business there.'

Probably to take the housemaid or whichever woman was nearest.

It did not take more than a few moments for him to replace his suave mask and his composure was complete. With a farewell to his comrade and a leer at her, he disappeared into the darkness.

Immediately the potions master sprang to her, but halted at her expression. She had wanted his arms around her straight away, but that was in the first few seconds and all she could feel then was a defensiveness that gripped her in despair. He didn't know what to do. Some deep instinct made him go down on one knee before her and say, 'I cannot forgive myself for that. I have just vowed that I would inadvertently hurt you, but that I would honour you and I have broken it within minutes.'

'It was a small price to pay for your life,' she stuttered brokenly. Gazing down on him, he looked so sad that she flung herself down with him and they wrapped themselves round each other, kneeling, so that the colours intermingled and no one could tell which part belonged to whom and tears of frustration and relief poured out down his cloak and whose they belonged to were a matter no one would ever know. After they had begun to release the tight grip they had on one another, and had kissed every exposed area of skin, faces wet and flushed and had stroked and stroked each other's hair, he brought out the crystal phial with a shakiness that was rare. Then summoning some wine in a glass, he meticulously poured out more than enough for her restoration and held it silently before her.

She drank it avidly but felt no different, just like she had felt when she had drunk the Patriarchium. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Remus and Hagrid in animated discussion and casting anxious glances in their direction.

She didn't want to think about whether it had worked or not.

'I think we should attend to our guests,' she said, 'some of them are concerned about our disappearance.'

'Let them be concerned,' he muttered.

Hagrid looked as if he would storm over to where they were, and although he could not see them, as Severus had not taken the Invisibility Walls down, he would certainly bump into them.

'I  have decided to stay here, by ourselves. We could….'

She fondled his arm, feeling the folds of his sleeves and the warmth underneath them and then searched his face.

'Sweetheart, I would like nothing better, but I have a feeling we should attend to our duties. We have time for that later.'

'I say,' he said, 'that we stay here.'

'Severus?' she said beginning to get anxious and not a little irritated, and began to pull him towards the light and festivities, temporarily forgetting about the walls.

Since when had he not wanted to do his duty?

Then she stopped suddenly and a smile radiated over her face and she turned to him, face lit. There had been no pressure on her chest, no fuzziness, no symptoms at all. The satisfaction on his face was worth the trouble it took to put it there.

'Oh, my darling, I'm so proud of you,'' she said, flinging her arms once again round him and he swirled her around him, her dress flying out with her.

'You did it,' she continued.

'We did it,' he corrected.

And with his kisses, he completely wiped out the aftertaste of Lucius. After a few moments, he recited  'Finite Incantatum,' to take the walls down and they walked towards the mingling guests, their hands gripped between them.

Hagrid was naturally the first one to find them and his good-natured face was screwed up with worry.

'We've bin lookin' for you two. Getting' worried we were.'

'We're fine, thank you Hagrid,' she said, speaking for the two of them. On impulse she motioned him down from his great height and gave him a kiss on the cheek and the half-giant blushed to his boots and went all silly. Severus averted his eyes from the sight.

Remus appeared from nowhere with some food and punch for them from the tables which literally groaned from the amount of food, complaining and wheezing all the while and then chortling every now and then when anyone tickled them. Although the food was delicious, they picked at it, just savouring a new freedom, a fresh escape, a newly shared unity, a future. They endured with patience the whirl of sociability with students coming up with questions, staff talking their heads off, house-elves squeaking their good wishes as they became the centre of the turning festival, shared with Hermione and Draco. Malfoy junior began to talk man-to-man with Severus. Hermione rolled her eyes at Elrin and they shared a conspiratorial grin, so they went into a space by the fire and talked for some time, Harry and Ron eventually joining them. She was interested in their responses to Beltane. Elrin could see Severus glance at her now and again, reassuring himself of her presence or desperation to get away from Draco, she could not tell. He had always used the son to get to the father and today was no different.

After a while, he came over to her and said that it was time for the toasting and he needed her by his side. Assured that everyone had a drink, the students with punch made from Sweet Woodruff, the staff with wine and the house-elves with a mysterious concoction of their own, Severus knocked a glass to gain everyone's attention, then nodded to Dumbledore who had managed to acquire a funny hat with fireworks on it and who nodded back to the giggles of the younger students. Everyone else had seen him do this so many times, that it was rather predictable.

 As he waited until all fell into silence, Elrin gazed around at the motley assemblage and finally felt at home. This was where she belonged, this was where, for good or ill, her heart was.

'As always, I will be brief,' said the old man, 'A toast to the most excellent May King and Queen and may you reign all summer long,' and lifted his goblet to the sky.

'All summer long,' chorused the company and drank. Hermione and Draco glowed.. Draco then stiffened upright and with his lordly manner, and despite the differences between him and his father, Elrin shuddered to herself.

'To – Professor Snape – and – Madam Snape. May all your days have peace and prosperity,' he drawled and lifted his glass of punch.

'Peace and prosperity,' they all chanted and downed the hatch.

Peace. The irony, coming from the son of the most dangerous Death Eater that existed.

Eyes then riveted on the professor with the harshest of  reputations as he raised his goblet.

'On behalf of – my wife and myself, an expression of gratitude is in order for the ceremony, the feast and the company.' He cringed at the last, because in truth he would have preferred a less public marriage. However, the wine had soaked into his blood, but more importantly, his skill as a Master Potion maker truly belonged to him now, and as if that were not enough, he had acquired a companion that was beyond his deserving. He had never felt so complete. 'I would like to toast the school that I have dedicated my life to.'

'The school,' they chorused and everyone drank, draining their glasses. The ritual speeches were over. Elrin then moved forward, but did not raise her goblet but her voice.

'You may wonder what the tiny paper unicorns are about – in the silver bowls. It's a Muggle custom to give what is known as a favour to guests – a little present. There is a unicorn for each. It knows the recipient and will give you, if you put it under your pillow or by your bedside, a dream of whatever is your heart's deepest desire. It may or may not come true, so I recommend that you think carefully about what you truly want. She omitted to say that Severus had done the spells necessary for them: she knew he would hate them to know, and it was true that he would not have done it unless she had badgered him into it, grumbling all the while.

Severus stepped forward again, 'And do not imagine,' he began silkily, glaring around at the young faces before him, 'that your potions essays are excused because of today. I expect them in on Friday,' and there was a general soft moan. His eyes glittered at them.

Just in case they thought he was going soft.

Hermione was the only student that smiled and then dropped it quickly as he spotted her doing so. He sneered in delight to himself. She was the best student that he had had and he did not want her to get conceited. Putting up with Draco was quite sufficient.

Filius then reminded them that they needed to be the first on the dance floor and waving his wand, began the music. Most of the older students were ready for this moment and had their partners all lined up. All that was needed was for the couple to do their bit, and they could enjoy the rest of the night, so they stared hard at Severus and Elrin. Her train and veil was quickly shortened for the dance as they made their way to the centre, the bonfire having settled into an intense golden light and low on the ground. He had been more nervous of this moment than she, as it was so long since he had danced with anyone. His job of chasing errant students had kept him off the dance floor for many years. However, as soon as he was on it, the familiar rhythm returned and she made it easy for him, moving against his body like liquid. They began slow, settling into the rhythm, settling into moving as one, then breaking off as single entities, pulling away from one another, eyeing one another, then moving towards one another, he tugging her to him, she allowing him to pull her against him, to mould to him, to yield to him, then they were apart again and she this time slinked up to him and he was in retreat and she showed her power, her tigress walk and she captured him and he allowed himself to be caught and looked at her in wonder, and then they were one again, moving as velvet over the ground. More than one student had their mouth open. Even though to their eyes the dancing appeared old fashioned, something made them see why she chose him, though many were in denial, not able to believe their eyes. A camera was flashing but the dancers ignored it and gradually some of the professors began to dance. Filius stepped out with his new partner and Hagrid asked Wilhelmina Sprout who, giggling accepted his invitation standing on his feet. The prefects began as well, Hermione and Draco starting first, she keeping her distance from him and he looking supercilious and downright irritated. They were too close for their own comfort. Soon the area was covered with paired figures and the evening was in full swing.

After some time, there was a break in the dancing, and Dobby tugged at Elrin's dress urgently.

'Winky wishes to bring out the wedding cake,' he squeaked, his eyes bulging, excited.

'Of course Dobby,' and she indicated this to Severus, whose patience in social interaction was beginning to wane and who kept eyeing students near bushes and fingering his wand, but who suffered himself to be led to the tables again. Calling a temporary halt to the music, they waited for the wedding cake to be brought in, the couples standing politely and when it did arrive, she nearly fell backwards. It was being levitated towards the biggest table by several house-elves and Winky had outdone herself. Colin Creevey went mad, flashing here and there, until Filius stopped him in case of accidents. It was a mad arrangement, 10 tiers tall, not completely symmetrical, not completely stable, in fact it looked as if the whole thing might topple at any minute. Winky, for it was she that was responsible, had abandoned herself to a sort of mad baroque creation with the icing bag. Each tier had two small marzipan figures, one in dark green and the other in red, kissing, lying asleep in bed, sitting in easy chairs facing one another before a fire, riding horses: one black, one chestnut, him wrapping his arms round her with Sampeer hovering, riding the unicorn to escape from the forest, and then both of them talking with Fawkes and Dumbledore round a fireside.  There was even one with Severus in the duel with the professor whose name she had forgotten, and then to her embarrassment, there was one with her in her red slit dress and high heels on the dance floor with him. These little scenes went all the way up to the top, while insane decorations of quills and parchments, cherries, bows and ribbons jostled the sides.

What had those sharp eyed house-elves not noticed? She thanked the stars there was no illustration of the library.

Further up, looking very precarious, were cakes perhaps made more for student tastes.

There was chocolate and jam and cream oozing out of the many cakes that were insanely covered in sprinkles, jelly and fudge owls, liquorice whips and voodoo cakes, as well as piles of belly flops and peep-covered bananas.

'That one there is a  Krispy Kreme doughnut cake sir,' pointed out Dobby with pride, though Elrin had never heard of such a thing.  Severus gaped at the monstrosity in horror. Winky took this for awe and sighed contentedly. Elrin quickly grasped her husband by the arm and leant against him. 'It's beautiful,' she murmured forcefully, gripping his hand. Winky was beside herself, and Dobby, reassured as to the professor's appreciation, whipped out a knife for them to use.

'Sweetheart?' she said. He glared at her for a second as if he might retort, 'don't sweetheart me,' but she nudged his arm, indicating the knife, which he took, still speechless. She just hoped he wouldn't lunge at the nearest house-elf, so she clung onto him and placed his hand over hers while they cut. Cheering went up when it had been done and amid flashes of light, cake was distributed by the happiest of house-elves.

Hours later, after endless dancing and eating and the teachers had split up quarrellers and amorous couples, Dumbledore finally ordered all the students to bed. In more peaceful years he would have allowed at least the seniors to stay up all night since it was a special occasion, but this year was different: they had taken many a chance already. So he ordered them into a long line, snaking round the area, and one by one, hesitating first – setting their one wish and with varying degrees of optimism, they ran and jumped the fire, now low and propitious with its simmering golden light.

Many of the staff headed back to the school to supervise, leaving a handful to sit by the fire talking into the night. Minerva was hilarious as she gave a wonderful imitation of Lucius on Parent's Day and Filius entertained them with his excellent stories. Elrin leant against Severus in the warm light listening to the murmur of their voices as well as their laughter and drifted off in a blissful sleep. When she awoke, he was standing over her, encouraging her to wake and rise. It was dark and the fire had been put out. Remus, Minerva and Filius were making their way back to the castle, still talking and carrying pieces of the fire for their rooms. It was the custom she understood and Severus had already taken theirs. Then she heard Minerva say that Remus would be put up in one of the guest rooms. 

That was good.

She was more tired than she thought and she drowsily allowed him to support her towards Aelfsidene who was inexplicably standing there, his black tail flicking impatiently but who must have been half asleep as well, since he was more subdued than usual.

'Come,' he said, 'It would be easier if I got on first, and you were behind me.' When he was mounted, he pulled her up easily onto the horse so that she could cling on behind him, still drowsy as the horse bounced away into the darkness, shying from the surrounding shadows.

'Where are we going? Are we going home?' she slurred and was aware through her tiredness that she had called it home, even if it was only some hundred yards away.

'No,' he said and fell silent.

Wherever they were going, she did not mind; everything that she cared for she had her arms around, her head lolling on his warm back. The stars were bright above, and she idly watched them as they paced their way along numerous paths, through fields and then gradually began to climb upward and was aware of the danger of slipping off. The occasional owl made the horse start, but otherwise the journey was uneventful, just long, but eventually Aelfsidene stopped. She could hear the chattering of dawn birds just beginning and it must have been lighter because she could make out the edge of some woods as Severus dismounted. As the warmth of his back left her she woke and he lifted her gently down. When she turned around, the sun was not yet up, but she could see the mists in front of her gaze where the early morning was just beginning to reveal layers of  mountains in the distance and the castle and the deep glitter of lakes below. They had gone further than she would have imagined.

'It's so beautiful,' she gasped. 'This is somewhere where you visit often?'

'As often as my duties allow,' he said, observing her reaction closely. It looked like the effect on her was important to him. He surveyed the scene before them and sighed slowly. 'It has saved my sanity on more than one occasion.' Listening to Aelfsidene munching his way through the grass along the tree line behind them, she put an arm round his waist and wondered at the times he would have come here in pain and confusion.

'We have something to do,' he said calmly.

'We do?'

'I have not told you about this aspect of Beltane, this cleansing ritual. It is nothing to concern yourself about, it is a small one,' he smirked, seeing her disconcertment but sleepy though she was, she didn't miss the implication of that look.

'Come,' and he showed her a small spring just a little further along the tree line. 'Cup some water in your hands' and he waited for her. Puzzled, but doing as he bid, she swept her skirts aside, crouched down and scooped some of the cold fresh water in her hands. He then stood in front of her and dipped his fingers in it and washed her brow lovingly with water, some of it running down her face like tears.

'May you have joy and peace in your soul,' he murmured, 'and delight in your body.'

He then sprinkled it on her hair and then mischievously dropped some down her cleavage. She laughed and he laughed slowly: a long, strange sound. Riveted, she observed him take what was left of the water in her palms and said, 'Now you do it for me.' She bathed his brow carefully; loving the wide expanse of it, his hair flopping down before it, water falling down his proud face.

'May you have joy and peace in your soul,' she said softly, 'and delight in your body.' He had to bend a little for her to be able to flourish liquid over his head and even then she had to reach up and a memory shot through her of the other time when she attempted to take off what she thought was his wig. The spring water sat on his glossy blackness as he accepted her blessing with a kind of humility, which reached to her very core. Since he had less skin showing, there were less places to put it, so she placed some on his lips, wiping it gently on the curves of them. His eyes grew hot and she noticed that the lower part of her body was beginning to have symptoms of meltdown, of heat and oozing liquid. She was definitely awake now. He wiped his hands with the rest of the water and carefully, slowly, he closed the short distance between them and bent down until he reached her mouth and kissed her so tenderly and sensuously that she clung to him as if he might disappear.

'Severus…ahhhh,' she moaned, desperate for him.

'Sweetheart,' he answered as they wrapped themselves round one another like vines, gasping and hungry for each other. He manoeuvred her into a dense patch of high grasses and broke away to take his cloak off and lay it down on the ground. She grasped his frockcoat and got him out of it even though it was cool and then sat down on the cloak. He stood there watching her in his pure white shirtsleeves, before she pulled him down onto her, the grasses waving high above them and the smell of early summer vegetation as well as damp earth assailing their nostrils. To prevent them from getting cold, he cocooned them in a Warming Spell and they continued with slow, deep kissing, warming to each other as he shunted his knee up between her legs pinning her to the ground, her skirts splayed around her. Then suddenly, it began to rain softly.

'Oh,' she said, disappointed, feeling the light drops begin.

'Good Beltane rain,' he murmured 'same properties as the spring water,' and allowed the rain to fall onto them a little before he invoked an Invisible Wall as protection above them and they listened to the soft drum of the raindrops on the cover. In a moment, he held his arm out beyond it, and with a wet hand, smeared cool water over her shoulders, over her cleavage above her bodice, over her neck, over her back, kissing each part as he went. Then he dived back again and throwing back her skirts, massaged her thighs with it, making her want him. Then he noticed something and said in his silkiest tone, 'You married me without knickers on?'

'I did,' she giggled, bending her face into his shirt.

'Just as well you didn't trip over the broomstick then,' he said dryly, but with a smirk on his face.

'I didn't think of that,' she said, falling back down, laughing.

'Obviously. Mm. It was just as well I was ignorant of it,' he said and bent to kiss her unclothed state, which promptly stopped her laughter, sending an erotic charge through her as his tongue lapped at the wetness of her thighs. Struggling not to cry out in need, she writhed and pulled at him, but he held her down, intent on the rubbing of his tongue over her smooth rounded thighs, bare and vulnerable and wide under his gaze. She tried to shift her body so that he would move towards a more satisfying juncture, but he chortled at her attempts, and ignored her flailing hands. From her position, she could not grasp hold of him and he knew it and leered at her from behind his curtain of hair. Then as swiftly, he left her lower half and he was with her, his overwhelming presence real and hungry before her, pushing her down on the ground with him on top of her, possessively.

'Mine,' he growled happily. 'You are mine.' Then he whispered quietly, his lips centimetres from her own: 'You did something I could never have imagined anyone doing for me.' She searched his face and his ruffled hair, damp with the rain and could feel the smoothness of his chest through his open shirt, his ribs heaving.

'I did what I had to do,' she replied somewhat sharply, not wanting to think about Lucius.

'I am – it was despicable to put you through that,' he said. 'You have done a dangerous thing. You will have to do what I say in public, you realize that?'

'Mm, ' she replied, seductively feeling the firmness of his thighs under his trousers and the hardness of him wanting to break through the many buttons, 'I will do what you say now.'

'Then,' he said quietly, 'I want you on top of me.'

It took him seconds to roll over and whisk her over him so that she was astride with her full dress, petticoats and all, brushing the Invisibility Wall with her hair, raindrops sliding down the domed cover. She took some time to briefly lift her skirts showing her cream limbs with its' dark centre, so that the material was out by her side, their smooth silkiness covering them both like a giant flower.

'Now take that bodice off,' he murmured, attempting to do so ineffectively. It was a moment before it was off and her small and beautiful breasts were swinging free before him. With his legs stretched out in abandon, he was flat on his back under her. Gazing at her loveliness, he then kissed her hands peeking out of the long gloves that she still wore, his mouth open on the silky dragons' blood red of the gloves, delirious with pleasure, thanking all the stars for his destiny.

How did he get here? What road led him here? Did he do something worthy at some point in his wretched life?

'I have you now, Severus Snape,' she announced gravely, sitting snugly on him, pinning him to the earth.

There he was, the Death Eater, the now great Master of Potions, the scourge of the school, the terror of the students, the spy, now under her thighs, midnight hair splayed out around his head, his arms out as if he didn't know what to do, as if he yielded to her unconditionally.

'You have me, I confess it,' he said elated at the sound of his name used in that way by this astonishing woman and the pressure of her naked groin upon his stomach.

'Undo yourself,' she demanded, flicking her long hair back from her face and as she leant forward, her breasts touching his face, he obediently eased his hardness out with his fingers. It stood out erect behind her, hot and needy.

Rarely had she been in this position and was heady with it. She could feel the steady drumming in his chest with her palms and experienced a smug delight in having him under her control, even as, or even because she knew he could take it away in an instant. There was no denying his power, she could feel it in his aura and in his body and in his mind, but he lay there below, acquiescent for her delectation as well as for his own desires. It reached the inner core of herself and burst into flower, making her wet and slithery. Shifting her bottom, she manoeuvred herself so that she could feel his smooth, slightly wet head and pushed herself gently down, gasping aloud as she was speared with his length and width, enthroned completely. He groaned, his back arching and gasped with the powerful emotion that blossomed within the subjection of his position. It was something he had never voluntarily been in before, except perhaps under Voldemort's revenge: powerless and in agony.

This, however, was heaven.

'I have you absolutely,' she whispered, leaning close.

'You have me absolutely,' he echoed, staring up into the depth of her eyes, licking her nipples as her breasts swayed before him, his nose brushing their swollen flesh.

'Good,' she said, kissing the warm satin of his mouth, wanting and needing his whole body like some avaricious carnivore, her flowing hair covering his head and shoulders. She moved her hips slowly, very slowly, just sufficient for him to begin to pant and moan so strongly that he nearly came in that instant, so enveloped was he. He concentrated on a bird singing in a nearby tree, aware of its liquid throatiness and an answering call from a mate perhaps. Gaining control, his breathing deepening, he lifted his mouth up to reach hers again, moaning and wanting to thrust, but unable to with her weight pinning him down. She tried not to laugh.

'Some of your own medicine,' she murmured, smiling and stroking his forehead.

He growled and she smiled even more, laughing openly, kissing his cheek.

'I adore you,' she said.

'And I want you,' he growled. 'I can't take much more of your teasing,' he said.

'You want me to put you out of your misery?' she enquired archly.

'I will punish you if you do not,' he said through gritted teeth.' Severely.'

'Promises, promises,' she said, shifting back and moving her body again slowly, up and down on his projection. He groaned loudly to her satisfaction and as she herself was beginning to feel the delirium of her own body, increased the pace, bending backwards in euphoria, her hair swinging wildly, breasts jiggling in the early morning half-light.

'Elrin,' he cried, suffering. 'Harder, more.'

She grabbed his shirt, passion convulsing through her, wanting him, needing him, angry with him, desperate for him, craving him, seeking him. She roughly pushed him in the chest and pulled his hair back, tenderly biting his neck, then seconds later cradling his head and stroking him until he did not know anything any more. Gripping and releasing him inside her, she bounced joyfully until the sweat ran down her neck which made him grip his cloak in pain or bliss it would be impossible to say, his back arching helplessly and his mouth open soundlessly to the sky. She felt the deep pleasure beginning to rise up in her as she felt a change in him.

'Darl…?'

The loudest roar she had heard from him made the birds in the nearby bushes scatter and any animal within hearing distance start at the sound. Before his cry was over, and the heat of his passion had flooded her with his life energy, jerking to a halt, blood rushed through her body and she quivered and shuddered over him, falling on his prostrate body, panting, her own liquid pouring out to mix with his. Gradually, he wrapped his arms around her and they lay a while, still within her, her heart thumping against his, hair damp with sweat as he orientated himself to reality. It had stopped raining.

They sat and watched the sun come up, it's blazing light muffled by the retreating mists, splashing its colour over the castle and the dark lakes and on themselves, while they snuggled against a tree with her in his enveloping arms and his cloak around them both for warmth.    

                                   To be continued…..

Abraxan
A breed of Flying Horse; the Abraxan is a gigantic, extremely powerful Palomino. The winged horses, which pulled the Beauxbatons carriage, were probably Abraxan